Fall Golf Classic Monday, October 26, 2015 - Sleepy Hollow Golf Club Thank you to Our Course Sponsor The date of the Putnam Chamber s Fall Golf Classic Monday, October 26 at Sleepy Hollow. This tournament is brought to you by our course sponsor; AEP John Amos. As well as, addition sponors Toyota Motor Manufacturing, United Rentals and Tyree, Embree & Associates. Midway Ford is our Hole-in-One Sponsor featuring a new car lease and three additional prize winning opportunities. Registration for this scramble format tournament is limited. Team sign in is at 9 AM with a shot gun start at 10 AM. A complimentary breakfast is available before golf and an awards luncheon will be held after golf. Golfers have an opportunity to win Raffle prizes which include a television, jewelry and other unique prizes. One raffle ticket per golfer is included with golf additional raffle tickets are available for purchase. Prizes for the top teams, prizes for skill events and drawings for raffle prizes will all be awarded at the luncheon following golf. Reserve your team space now deadline to register is Friday, October 16 th. Call the Chamber office to register. MEMBER TIP: Did you know the Putnam Chamber has an App? Download it from itunes or Google Play by searching Putnam Chamber WV! Thank you to our Renewing Members for your continued support of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce! Your investment demonstrates your willingness to support and build a better business climate in which to live, work and play in Putnam County.
New Members: S & S Engineers, Inc. 501 Eagle Mountain Road Charleston, WV 25311 304-342-7168 j.parker@s-s-eng.com The Putnam County Chamber Consumer & Relocation Guide with a complete list of Chamber members is always available free of charge at the Chamber office. You can also find the guide on our website, www.putnamchamber.org October Business of Month Snap Fitness Congratulations!. Snap Fitness: Committed to Helping you get Result For a fast, convenient and affordable workout, Snap Fitness is your best option. Our clean, comfortable close-tohome gym gives you everything you need to get results. Snap Fitness West Virginia is dedicated to being the leader for wellness in West Virginia. Snap Fitness is the best investment you will make to improve your overall health. In addition to our Snap staff we are one of the only health clubs in the Charleston and Huntington area that has onsite physical therapist. We provide free musculoskeletal screenings and guidance with therapeutic exercises to all members. Whether you injured yourself at home or tweaked a muscle in the gym, we will do a thorough screening to get you back to your workouts faster.
Here is a list of amenities that you will find at any of our four locations: Industry's best cardio and strength training equipment Access to convenient 24 hour gym locations worldwide (1,200 in US) No long-term binding fitness club contracts, no hassles Clean, comfortable, and safe environment Personal training services to get you started on a program for better results Online workouts and meal plans designed specifically for you Workout towels A secure key card access system, video surveillance and emergency alert system is present at all off of our facilities and your safety and security is a top priority. Many of our facilities also include private showers and changing rooms to make it convenient to work out when the time is best for you. Snap Fitness West Virginia is the complete wellness center, offering 24/7 access, personal training, nutritional counseling and the support you need to achieve you fitness goals. Our four convenient locations in West Virginia are located in; Barboursville, Hurricane/Teays Valley, Milton and Winfield. For membership information please visit our websites by going to www.snapfitness.com and type in your zip code for the location nearest you. Stop by any location during our staffed hours and mention this article to get your first month FREE!
Join Us For: Business After Hours Thursday, October 22, 2015 5:00-7:00 p.m. Hosted by: $20 per person RSVPs are required; pre-payment is appreciated. Business After Hours is open to members and their guests. The cash drawing sponsored by BB&T is valued at $1000; you must be present to win! RSVP to 304.757.6510, chamber@putnamcounty.org or www.putnamchamber.org Brown Bag Lunch Series Your Company in the Media Friday, October 16 from 12:00pm 1:00pm Bring your lunch and join us at Strayer University on Friday, October 16 at 12:00 noon for our next Brown Bag Lunch Event! Please RSVP to the Chamber at (304) 757-6510 or Chamber@putnamcounty.org. You can also register online at www.putnamchamber.org Would you like to host a Brown Bag Lunch? The Chamber is looking for hosts for the end of 2015! Contact Ashley today for this opportunity to educate your fellow chamber members today!
Member News We would like to thank Triad Engineering for hosting our Business After Hours in September! We hope to see everyone again at our next Business After Hours on October 22nd! Community News ANNUAL BUFFALO OCTOBERFEST 2015 Celebrating 28 YEARS And It s Still Growing! ****** Saturday, October 17 th From 9am to 5pm ****** Held in Buffalo (Putnam), one mile North of Toyota. Come join the good ole fashion Family Fun, Food, and Music that Everyone will ENJOY ~ from Kids to Seniors! Enjoy Crafts, Food, Apple Butter, Great Music, Animals, Contests, Exhibit/Booth Space/ Entry/ Parking is ALL FREE, FREE! Crafters, Vendors, Businesses may use this GROWING FESTIVAL as an opportunity to get FREE Exposure to sell your Goods and Wares! Churches, Schools, Senior/Youth Groups, Clubs and Organizations may use this opportunity as a Major FUND RAISING Venture! It s totally FREE!! There s NO Exhibit/Booth Space FEE! Call Now to Reserve Your FREE Space: 304-937 - 2747.
Medicare Workshop: learn the basics & differences of medicare plans With Medicare Open Enrollment approaching quickly (Oct.15- Dec. 7), Whitney P. Stricklin, CFP, of Financial Resources & Consulting, a Hurricane based financial planning, investment consultation and insurance firm, is hosting a free educational workshop about Medicare. The workshop will be held at the Financial Resources & Consulting office, 3466 Teays Valley Rd. in Hurricane on the following dates: Thursday, October 1at 1:00, and Tuesday October 20 at 10:00, Thursday November 5 at 3:00 and Tuesday November 17 at 10:00. Space is limited; therefore RSVP is requested by the day prior to each workshop to Stacie Thomas at 304.397.6517 or stacie@fraconsulting.us. Individual appointments are also available. An overview of Medicare and the different plan options will be discussed, as well as what to consider when choosing the correct coverage for your situation. There will be time at the end of the workshops to address questions. Financial Resources and Consulting is located at 3466 Teays Valley Rd. in Hurricane, and offers financial planning, investment and wealth management consultation and protection insurance. For more information find them on Facebook or visit their website at www.fraconsulting.us. Panera is kicking off their Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign this Thursday, October 1 st - benefitting Susan G Komen WV. On Thursday October 1 st - 100% of all PRBs purchased will benefit Susan G Komen WV.They will continue to donate a portion of the proceeds to the charity throughout the rest of the month. Orders can also be placed online at www.covelli.com/gopinkwv
Region 2 Workforce West Virginia The Region 2 WORKFORCE Investment Board has announced that they are currently offering reimbursement for on-the-job training costs provided by an employer for up to $10,000.00 per qualified worker in particular industries. We want to provide stimulus to the region through development of qualified workers. If an employer in our region provides training to any one of their current or new employees that fall within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) qualifications, we can reimburse employers for up to ten thousand dollars in training and employment costs, said Jake Hunt, Executive Director of the Region 2 WORKFORCE Investment Board. To qualify for the reimbursement, workers must be eligible to receive WIOA funding and assistance and be employed in one of the following fields or industries: Oil and Gas / Energy Production Construction Wood Product Manufacturing Administrative & Support Services Ambulatory Health Care Services For more information on the WIOA requirements or to initiate training services contact the Region 2 WIB at (304) 429-5900 or toll-free at (866) 262-5348. #About Region 2 WORKFORCE Investment Board:The Region 2 WIB serves businesses, workers and individuals in the following counties: Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Putnam and Wayne in the State of West Virginia. The Region 2 WIB began operations in July 2000 after the WORKFORCE Investment Act legislation of 1998 created a system for federal WORKFORCE Development Funds to be administered by regional WORKFORCE Investment Boards (WIB). The WIB act was replaced in 2014 by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Each local region now has the ability to meet local economic and WORKFORCE development needs.
Tech Tip Brought to you by: This month, we want to explain that every Internet user needs to hold themselves accountable for their online actions, like web browsing. If you re not taking careful steps to keep your identity anonymous while online, you could face serious consequences. No single site is capable of warding off all attackers, especially sites which exhibit a high profile. Essentially, if a skilled hacker wants to find out what you ve been doing on the Internet, they ll probably be able to do so. Here are five ways you can minimize how much of your sensitive information can be found online: Clear Your Browsing History Clearing your browsing history is often perceived as a sign of sketchy browsing activity, but it doesn t necessarily have to be. Did you know that deleting your browser s history is one way to keep hackers from finding your frequently-visited online accounts if your PC were ever to be hacked? Don t Use Your Real Name Easily one of the best ways to keep your online activity from biting back is by not using your real name. Although, many websites like Facebook require real names in order to keep people accountable for what they post. Whenever you can conceal your real name, be sure to do so. Don t Use Personal Photos For much the same reason why you don t want to use your real name, you should avoid using personal photos. This is especially true if you don t want an account to be traced back to you. Be sure to post a generic image of interest, rather than your kids, house, car, or other personal photos. Protect Your Credit Card Information If a hacker is able to capture your credit card information, they may also be able to access to your purchase history. Therefore, using prepaid credit cards that can t be traced back to you is always a secure online shopping strategy. Don t Use Your Personal Email Account Finally, using your personal email to sign up for accounts online is not only risky, but can also fill your inbox with spam. Create a burner email account from a free online hosting service like Gmail or Yahoo to separate value personal information. Contact Netranom at 304.562.4700 or help@netranom.com
Community News View all upcoming community events on the Community Calendar at www.putnamchamber.org Marketing Tip: How Your Business Can Capitalize On Mobile Search Local search is one of the best ways you can maximize your company s online exposure. As the trend moves away from traditional print marketing to online marketing aimed at capturing the attention of consumers on their mobile devices, local search is more important than ever and how your business capitalizes on it. Why You Need to Optimize for Local Search According to some recent studies, by the year 2016, the number of mobile searches people make will surpass the number of PC searches. This means that, in the next couple of years, people will be less likely to wait until they get home to search for a company, but instead will use their mobile devices to find it right away. You don t want to be left behind as that transition occurs. Right now, on average, every three out of five consumers search for the service or product they need on their phone or tablet. Where to Start Google is the leader in all mobile searches, so you will want to capitalize on what they have already built. Optimize your Google+ page to help people find your local business, and don t forget to include your business on Google Maps. If somebody is searching for your product or service you want to be found. Bing and Yahoo, along with Google, have heavily invested in their mobile platforms, so you want to ensure that your business is visible on all three. Since they are the heavyweights of this category, you might as well maximize your online advertising by benefiting from their already-cemented online presence. If these three platforms are where people go to find answers, your business should be on there too. Mobiles Apps to Check Out AroundMe is an app that can be used on smartphones and tablets alike. This local search app allows a customer to search what products and services are in close proximity to where he or she is, including things like restaurants, hotels and gas stations. It works in tandem with some of the biggest websites who localize information, allowing their users to find exactly what they are looking for when and where they need it. FourSquare is a staple local search app, making it easy for people to find the perfect product or service. This app tracks what people search for and makes recommendations based on their previous searches. This means that your company could be discovered by somebody who hadn t intended on looking for you. You can benefit from periphery recommendations from other users on this app. The mobile boom is not slowing down and your company needs to jump on board now before it is left behind. We are now in an age where everyone, young and old, has a Smartphone and knows how to use it. This creates an exciting opportunity to reach new customers and keep old customers coming back to you. If you need further help or just want to get a free report on where your business is listed in local directories, we are here to help. Reach out to us today at (304) 760-5686 or email me at bg@bghamrick.com.
Calendar of Events for October 2015 October 10 th Harvest Festival Hurricane City Park 1:00pm 8:00pm October 16th Brown Bag Lunch Strayer University 12:00pm 1:00pm October 22 nd Business After Hours Toyota Motor Manufacturing 5:00pm 7:00pm October 25 th Pumpkin Carving Contest Hurricane City Park 3:00pm 6:00pm October 26 th Chamber s Fall Golf Classic Sleepy Hollow Golf Club Putnam County Chamber Staff Marty Chapman, President mchapman@putnamcounty.org Ashley Alford, VP of Programs & Events a.alford@putnamcounty.org Mary Jo Hendricks, Administrative Assistant - Finance mj@putnamcounty.org Shane Bartolomeo, Administrative Assistant chamber@putnamcounty.org Office Hours: 9:00 am 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday Physical Address: 5664 St. Rt. 34, North, Winfield, WV 25213 Mailing Address: PO Box 553, Teays, WV 25569 Phone: 304.757.6510 ~ Fax: 304.757.6562 chamber@putnamcounty.org www.putnamchamber.org